Dave Alpert: I Know Where You’re Going with That

Meet my new favorite hot sauce…

Isn’t she “good lookin’”?

I’ve always been a fan of spicy food.  I’d probably put hot sauce on my breakfast cereal if it wouldn’t make the milk curdle–or if I actually ate breakfast cereal.  Anyway, I’ve always been a fan of Tabasco.  While I have been a long-time user of the original Tabasco pepper sauce, I’ve always felt that their newer varieties fell short, mainly because they are less hot.  Original Tabasco is just barely spicy enough, and with that classic vinegar-y flavor.  But sometimes you need even more fire–not less!

And then came Tabasco Habanero Sauce.  Weighing in at over 7,000 Scoville units, it is, by far, the hottest Tabasco brand sauce.  Read about why hot peppers are hot and Scoville units here.  If I ever become a scientist, I’d like to study a correlation between use of hot sauces and drug addiction because eating them releases endorphins in the same way that many drugs do. Hmmm…

Anyway, the problem I have with many habanero sauces is that they tend to be too much fire and too little flavor.  I believe that Tabasco struck the perfect balance with this sauce.  It’s tangy, flavorful, and unmistakably habanero. 

I have only two gripes.  First, it is almost impossible to buy in the Boston area.  Neither Stop & Shop nor Shaw’s carry it.  The only supermarket chain that keeps it in stock, with at least a few stores in Massachusetts, is Hannaford Supermarkets.  My only other complaint is that they only ship small 2oz bottles to these stores.  That’s like a week’s supply for a spice addict like me!  In any case, if you love hot sauce, and haven’t tried this one, run out to Hannaford in Waltham, MA (the closest store to Boston) and pick up a bottle.  You will not be disappointed.

Last week, we played another show at one of our favorite venues–TOAD in Cambridge, MA.  I played an acoustic set with the great Chris Anzalone on percussion.  In the second set, Chris sat in on the big-boy drums.  All in all, it was another great rock show. Unfamiliar with the Dave Alpert sound?  Check it out here.

These photos are compliments of my dad, Ken Alpert…

Dave and Chris

Mariana, Dave, Chris and Rob tuning

The band

Dave Alpert and Mariana Iranzi

Rob Sistare rocking

The band rocking out

Our next show is on Thursday, Jan 29 at Porter Belly’s Pub in Brighton, MA.  We go on at 9pm!

Hope to see you all tomorrow at the show!

As a kid growing up in Hull, MA, in addition to the Ice Cream trucks bringing delightful treats to us kids, there was this older Jewish man who roamed the beach with garbage bags full of cheap clothing (bringing delightful treats to all the old ladies).  Nathan got his name because a shmate is a rag or something useless in Yiddish.  Anyway, he would walk up to groups on the beach and start pulling stuff out of his bags.  The women would start to haggle.  It was like a game in which they would try to get the best deals possible.  Everyone seemed to win.

Back then, I took for granted how COOL that was.  It was like a bit of the old country in 1980.  Before e-commerce sites,  craigslist and dollar stores there was a real merchant bringing cheap goods to the people.  You could come back from the beach with a tan AND a pair of socks.  Ah, simpler times

So strange… two blog posts about food in a row…. No wonder I seem to be putting on LBs lately.

If this were a movie, I’d be out on Peterborough St in the pouring rain looking to the heavens screaming, “Why, God?  Why?!!!”

El Pelon, home of the best burritos in Boston by far (but without the bribe money of the other taquerias that get chosen every year in burrito competitions), burned to the ground last night.  Fortunately, no one was hurt in the blaze–apart from 2 firefighters who slipped on the ice.

I only hope the El Pelon is rebuilt and achieves new levels of success and glory!

Having lived for a few years in Tel Aviv, Israel and having traveled to other Middle Eastern countries, it would be fair to say I know my way around falafel joints.  I recently moved to Watertown and discovered a falafel joint that I consider to have the best shawarma in Boston–and there isn’t a second best that comes close. 

What is this magical land of spiced meat of which I speak?  Fordee’s on 555 Mt Auburn St.  Of course, their website could use some work, but the shawarma roll-ups are flawless–generous portions of tender meat (I had the beef, but they also have chicken shwarma.), fresh vegetables and a very tasty hot sauce that you can order on request. 

Yeah.  I’m sure that many of you will point out that I am no pioneer; check out all these rave reviews on Yelp.  Still, having sampled the goods at Shwarma King (Brookline), Cafe Jaffa (Boston), Rami’s (Coolidge Corner), Sabra (Harvard Sq) and other area hotspots, I can declare Fordee’s the winner–with confidence and authority.  Congratulations on a sandwich well done!